The Adamawa supplemental governorship election results will be tallied by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.
Recall that the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Yunusa, controversially proclaimed Aisha Binani, the APC’s candidate for governor, the winner of the supplementary poll on Sunday morning.
After the extra election was called off on Saturday, Yunusa entered the collation center and declared Binani the victor.
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However, INEC quickly reacted by rejecting the results that the REC had announced.
In a statement to journalists, INEC spokesperson, Festus Okoye, said: “The attention of the Commission has been drawn to a purported declaration of winner in the Adamawa Governorship election by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) even when the process has clearly not been concluded.
“The action of the REC is a usurpation of the power of the Returning Officer. It is null, void and of no effect.
“Consequently, the collation of results of the supplementary election is hereby suspended.
“The REC, Returning Officer and all involved are hereby invited to the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja immediately.”
In response to the scandal, the commission called an emergency management meeting on Sunday, a senior commission official informed Daily Trust.
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Although there were little specifics about the discussion, a top INEC official said that while the results collation might be finished at their headquarters in Abuja, the official declaration will undoubtedly take place in Yola, the capital of Adamawa State.
The called Adamawa authorities will be required to travel to Abuja with the original result sheets and other pertinent paperwork, the source said.
‘The unilateral irresponsibility’ of the Adamawa REC, according to another national commissioner of INEC, outraged the commission.
He said: “We are yet to come to terms with the motivation behind his action. In the first place, he (REC) has no power to announce results. Such powers are vested in the INEC chairman who can assign whoever he deems fit.
“We are going to hold an emergency meeting tomorrow (Monday) during which a decision will be taken on the governorship election.”
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The national commissioner also condemned the treatment meted out to their colleague in Yola, saying: “It was despicable that a national commissioner will be stripped naked. Where are the security operatives; there are a lot of questions begging for answers.”
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